Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies
Receives International Honor
The National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) has awarded the prestigious Soft Landings International Incubator designation to the Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies (CCIT), part of the EDA's Technology Centre of New Jersey in North Brunswick.
The Soft Landings designation recognizes an incubator's focus on welcoming non-domestic firms into its domestic market with translation services, help cutting through governmental red tape, access to capital, domestic market research, and other programs. CCIT is one of only 10 business incubation programs from around the world that have earned the Soft Landings designation since NBIA began the program in 2005.
"NBIA has helped ensure the success of many companies around the globe, and it's an honor for CCIT to receive the Soft Landings designation," said EDA Chief Executive Officer Caren Franzini. "Governor Corzine's Economic Growth Strategy has made international business development a priority, and it's great news for the state that we have been able to successfully attract foreign startup biotechnology businesses and help them grow and invest in New Jersey."
The 50,000-square-foot CCIT facility features affordable, customized office, production, and "plug-in ready" wet and dry laboratory space. In addition, CCIT provides emerging life sciences and biotechnology startups with technical assistance through a Strategic Partner Advantage Network, which offers tenants discounted professional services, including accounting, clinical development, regulatory compliance, human resources, insurance, law and marketing. Business development and collaborative opportunities are provided through a "corporate technology transfer" initiative unique to CCIT and working relationships with over a dozen global bioscience research parks and incubators. In addition, businesses located in CCIT have access to common services including conference rooms, a media room, reception, shipping and receiving areas, video conferencing, and an autoclave.
According to Randy Morris, NBIA director of membership, an experienced panel of NBIA-member incubator managers were impressed with CCIT's unique support for non-domestic firms. "CCIT accentuates its standard incubation services with assistance tailored specifically to non-domestic firms, including language and international business training through Kean University, and a 'global bioscience incubator/science park network,' which provides businesses with access to experts around the globe," Morris said.
There are currently 22 companies that have space at CCIT, which is part of the larger Technology Centre of New Jersey within the Greater New Brunswick Edison Innovation Zone along the Route 1 corridor between Rutgers and Princeton universities. Prominent CCIT tenants include Chromocell Corporation, MaxyBio Corporation, Rosetta Genomics and Orthocon.